Monday, May 16, 2011

This is differently a busy season. A lot of the artist I spoke to told me that the spring season is usually slow. I have to admit, it have been surprising busy for me. There are many shows and opportunities out there. The fun ( and scary) part is trying to decide which events and exhibition opportunities are best for me and my company. I'm still working on figuring out that puzzle. It seems to be a lot of shows and events popping up all around the metropolitan St. Louis area. There are also many more events in the Illinois and the lower Missouri areas as well. All of then look promising but it is a hard to truly know which one is right for my work. I have spoken to many other artist with far more experience than I and they usually say follow your gut, do your homework, and sometimes you have to just take a chance. Sometimes you will fail but other times you can be pleasantly surprise and benefit for the experience. This year I trying to step out more and participate in more events and find new venues for my jewelry to be shown to the public. It has been a "big process" but I will keep working on it. In June and July I will be in 5 to 6 shows. That is a lot for me. Some are big and some not so big but they're all a chance for me to get my work out there. Wish Me Luck!

Well this week's entry is called "Wind Blows" The swirls makes me think of a cool wind blowing. Just in time before the summer heat begins. This one has already found a home at the Spring Art Walk in St. Charles Missouri but I wanted to show it to you all anyway.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

I can truly say I have been blessed for I have a wonderful family which has always been very supportive. I feel that much of my talent was formed way before I went to school for art. I think it started under the guidance of my mom and dad. Both of my parents are artists in there own right. My dad was a photographer and my mom was a teacher aid who taught art to grades kindergarten through 3rd. All through my child and teen year, both of my parents where very support of my love for art. They supported me when I was studying fashion design and illustration in Columbus Ohio. They encourage my graphic design career when I worked for my late brother's desktop publishing company and in these later year they have been the strong force behind my quest to become a jewelry and mixed media artist. I lost my dad 2009, but I know he's up there cheering me on to this day. I call my mother the CEO of ALNB Collections. She is the one I go to when I have any important decision to make about my designing career. Every time I do a show, l call her to report on the sale figures and to get insight on how to improve my business and marketing. She is the GREATEST! I just thought, seeing that Mother's day was yesterday, I would give a shout out to the ones who help to make me the artist I am today. With the Lord's help, a supportive husband and great people like my mom in my corner, the art world looks very promising. Well just like my mom is a solid line in my life, this piece as a strong solid line as well. This is a mixed metal piece. While the circle is in brass , the aqua line is actually copper. I used a very strong blue patina on this piece. I burnished the patina surface until it became almost shiny. Then I sealed the surface. The blue portion almost feels like "Enamel". It was a fun piece to work on and I will revisit this concept in upcoming designs. Welcome to the ALNB Collections family " Slim Line in Aqua" Enjoy

Sunday, May 1, 2011

This season has been very promising for the company. This past weekend I participated in theSt. Charles Spring Art Walkon Main Street. I was located at the Remington Gallery and it was a great experience. For the past couple of years I have been located in a different location (Jake's on Main - They were Wonderful!!!). This year I was placed in a new location with other artists and it was a wonderful experience. The feedback from other artists, customers, and the different surrounding was encouraging. I made a lot of new contacts and of of course I got the chance to show some of my new designs to a new audience. I also have met a couple of great new artists. One of these artist's and I have decided to collaborate on a couple of new jewelry designs. I will hopefully be featuring these designs during the "Art and Air" Art Fair in Webster Groves in June. I'm so excited about this new collaboration. I can't wait to show you all what we come up with.

But for now I want to show you all my newest creation in Brass! Yes Brass! I know I love to work in copper but lately I have been having fun with brass as well. Welcome "Whirl Wind" to the ALNB Collection family. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you all!

About Me

Creativity is something that can stir the soul. My goal is to create truly distinctive one of a kind designs that lift the spirit and inspire the soul. I have a love for many mediums within the arts. From metalsmithing to ceramics, from graphic design to fiber design. They all intrigue me and that’s why I am a mixed media jewelry artist. All of these mediums are great on their own but together they open a whole new world to create items that is truly “Wearable Art.”

One of my main focuses in creating my lines of jewelry was to find a way to combine my 2 dimension images with my love for jewelry design. I enjoy combining my drawings, watercolors paintings, collages and photography with my distinct style of fretwork, wire wrapping, forging and texture within my metal work.

My subject matter mainly involves nature, abstracts, and the beauty of the female image. In society today so many of the images of women are many times negative and degrading. That is why I try to show through my art just how beautiful women are. The beauty of women, colorful abstracts and the beauty of "Nature" gives me a voice and this is the vision I want to share with everyone. These concepts are my true inspirations.